Fantasy Baseball 2014: 10 Hitters To Start On Opening Day

Fantasy Baseball 2014: 10 Hitters to Start on Opening Day

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It's time once again for adults to get the feeling as if they're a kid on Christmas morning. Draft day may even be better. Not only is it full of surprises, but you also have a little control over what you get. Watching your friends pass up on a player who you want is a great feeling very similar to getting a new toy.

Let's take a look at 10 undervalued hitters who you should consider it a gift to have in your Opening Day lineup.

10. OF Josh Hamilton

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10. OF Josh Hamilton

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Yes, Josh Hamilton's plate discipline was ridiculous last season, but let's not forget who he is. One bad season with a new team doesn't constitute an ADP of 73 for a former MVP candidate.

9. OF Wil Myers

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9. OF Wil Myers

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Wil Myers was ready for the majors long before his half season with the Tampa Bay Rays last year. He is a lot more of a sure thing than people realize, which is probably why he is typically drafted around No. 63 overall.

8. SS Jean Segura

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8. SS Jean Segura

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Jean Segura's terrible finish to the 2013 season is scaring a lot of GMs away. Even if his hitting numbers drop, his steals will be there. With the upside and the fact that he plays a position that's very thin with hitters, Segura is well worth grabbing at his ADP of 47.

7. OF Corey Hart

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7. OF Corey Hart

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Hart is a perfect example of why it's okay to be patient with your outfielders. He is a career .276 hitter who averages 27 home runs per 600 at bats. The knee injury that kept him out for all of 2013 has scared GMs so much that he's typically selected in the last few rounds. Hart says he feels great, and GMs should definitely take advantage.

6. 3B Pablo Sandoval

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6. 3B Pablo Sandoval

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Even if Pablo Sandoval wasn't' in the best shape of his life this year, his ADP of 133 would be ridiculous.

5. DH Billy Butler

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5. DH Billy Butler

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The fact that he's a DH and the slight down season in 2013 has Billy Butler undervalued with an ADP of 119. Ned Yost plans on having him play some first base, so it's likely he will earn that eligibility eventually. He's a .300, 20-home run player who has averaged 599 at bats in his last five seasons. You're not going to find a more steady producer than Butler that late in the draft.

4. OF Alex Gordon

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4. OF Alex Gordon

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Alex Gordon went cold late in 2013, which is probably why a well-rounded player like him has an ADP of 80. Not only is it safe to expect a bump in his .265 average from last season, but a boost to his 81 RBI would also be a good bet. He will no longer be hitting at the top of the order, which should put his power to better use.

3. 2B Aaron Hill

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3. 2B Aaron Hill

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Hill is a steal at 117 despite the fact that he's probably not going to get a lot of steals anymore. He's still a power-hitting second baseman who has his average back on track over the past two seasons. He may have some slight injury concerns, but there aren't a lot of hitters at his position who can put up the numbers he can.

2. 1B Freddie Freeman

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2. 1B Freddie Freeman

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Freddie Freeman is probably one of the worst kept secrets in fantasy baseball, but regardless, he's well worth grabbing at the beginning of the third round, where he's projected. The 24 year old hit .319 with an OPS of .897 last season. It will be exciting to see what the young guy will do for an encore.

1. SS Ian Desmond

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1. SS Ian Desmond

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With an ADP of 36, Ian Desmond is a tremendous value if nobody in your league reaches for him. He's a 20/20 guy, and probably the last shortstop you can get who brings power without ruining your average.